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kingsnake.com
Bill Love
Herp Photography
March 2, 2005

PHFlame: Thank you for coming to the special guest chat this evening. If you have a question for Bill Love, please type ? in the room and you will be added to the queue. You WILL be called on in the order of ? received. Please do not type openly in the chat room.

HHFrog: ?

Maliyum: ?

rockybalboa_nr: ?

LeoGeoGuy: ?

shogunreptle_nr: ?

PHFaust: Cody

ig_daddy: ?

Crazycodykadunk: Do u have any published photos and is so where have they bin published?

SengokuJidai_nr: ?

nei: ?

blove: Too many to count or keep track of at this point. REPTILES mag is where the most appear.

PHFaust: Which we all should subscribe to

PHFaust: :)

LeoGeoGuy: why?

PHFaust: Ig Daddy your question please

PHFaust: TO LEARN

Heterodon62: ?

ig_daddy: Which do you shoot mostly, film or digital, and why?

blove: All slides so far. I've got a new digicam en route to me right now, though, so I'm about to get serious in digital.

ig_daddy: Which one?

blove: I chose a Sony DSC F828.

ig_daddy: Wow! I have one too!

Crocman2020: ?

PHFaust: HH Your question please

HHFrog: what are the special detachable lenses called that allow super-close focusing on manual cameras, and where is the best place to get them. Also any additional info on them?

blove: MACRO lenses. I buy from Adorama.com in NY. For herps, that's all you need. Skip the 'normal' lens that they try to sell you with the camera initially.

HHFrog: ah...ok

PHFaust: Mali your question

Maliyum: Okay,I want to take really good pictures of my turtle. I can never take really clear, right pictures of her. She comes out blurry, or the light is either too bright or too low, and you can not see her at all. I just got a brand new camera and im still having a little bit of problems. Any advice? And What is your fav herp to take photo's of and why?

blove: Turtles are tough because they can often be shy, but once they come out, they're a cinch. One of the big advantages of a digicam will be to review your shots and take them again if necessary. My preference for photo subjects among herp is vipers.

Maliyum: cool thanks!

PHFaust: Rocky your turn

rockybalboa_nr: hi bill in youre trips too madagascar what boas have you seen and took pics of and what camera do you use,i use canon cameras.thanks alot,and thanks for chating too us.I love rading youre articles in reptiles mag.

blove: I've found all 3 boas many times, and always try for them all eact trip. Usually I'm successful. I use Nikon N90s now, but will probably semi-retire them when the Sony arrives.

rockybalboa_nr: thanks,cool

blove: I appreciate your comments about my column too!

PHFaust: Leogeo you are up...

rockybalboa_nr: you're welcome

DemonFrog: ?

rockybalboa_nr: ?

DemonFrog: have you ever been to grenada

lilBRAT_nr: ?

blove: While waiting, never been to Grenada yet.

LeoGeoGuy: what are the fine elements to shooting a nice picture

gecko_nr: ok

blove: That could be a book-length answer. Shoot at a low angle, and fill the frame, would be two of the things I see wrong with many pics

blove: And get the herp to NOT be looking away in the pic.

PHFaust: Shogun your turn

shogunreptle_nr: Hi, nice to see you again- I met you at a Raleigh expo last year. Anywho- I've been wondering about the fact that all over the internet, when you go to purchase a reptile, many of the picture synopsis's say that "This picture doesn't even compare to the ture color of the animal." What IS the best way to capture the color and detail and such to create a truly great picture of your animal, or even wild animals? Also- is the MACRO function on digital cameras comparable to the MACRO lens itself? Sorry, one more question. About Madagascar, what kind of opportunities would there be for college students to either go with you, or go there themselves to work on research papers, internships, etc.

shogunreptle_nr: Wow, that was long. Sorry

blove: There are so many variables in how color is rendered, I'd say simply DON't tweak colors over what your camera shows, and that's generally going to be "true enough" color on the web. More...

blove: I can't compare slide to digi macro too well yet, but there is a factor of about 1 to 1:6 in the power of lenses in digi vs. SLR. More...

blove: College students are always welcome, but to do research there on the cheap, you need to get with a university with an active Mad. researcher, like Univ. of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

shogunreptle_nr: Is that a good herpetology college?

blove: NEXT

shogunreptle_nr: thanks!

PHFaust: Sengo your turn

blove: Ron Nussbaum at Ann Arbor is the main reason that Univ. is a Mad. specialist.

SengokuJidai_nr: Bill, whenever I take the camera out my -usually calm- Python freaks on me, how do you get the herps you're shooting to calm down for the photo?

nei: ??

blove: Patience, patience, patience. Don't put them in direct sun. Do it on a cooler day. Have a dog nearby - that often spooks herps into temporary stasis.

blove: NEXT

SengokuJidai_nr: Are you serious?

SengokuJidai_nr: A dog to scare them?

blove: It works sometimes.

SengokuJidai_nr: ok...thanks

blove: NEXT

PHFaust: Nei your turn

PHWyvern: ?

PHFlame: ?

shogunreptle_nr: ?

mpherps: ?

PHFaust: Nei going twice

PHLiz: ?

gecko_nr: that was not nice

PHFaust: OK Moving on to Croc

PHGinger: Folks - please have your questions typed - it saves time

PHFaust: Croc man 2020

blove: In the reshuffling lull - I'll respond to a snippet I saw at the start: I ordered the new Sony digicam specifically for the 'low light advantage' of being able to shoot in natural light.

PHFaust: Alrighty then, lets give Rockybalboa a shot

rockybalboa_nr: Hi bill,what is youre favorite madagascan boa too take pics of,ground,tree or dumerils.And where do i get info on youre tours,also i try and take pics of my snakes at home(indoors) do you have any tips for me,thanks again.

PHFaust: WOO HOO Someone live!

ig_daddy: Bill, the body swivels out 70 degrees, to allow you to get down low, too.

rockybalboa_nr: bill i live in northern canada,its hard too take pics outside with my snakes

blove: I like the tree boas best because I find them in more diverse places than the other two. My Mad. tours are at: www.bluechameleon.org . I'm about to get new tours posted this week. On the photo tips - can you narrow it down a tad?

rockybalboa_nr: how about scene setup and lighting

blove: In northern Canada, I'd wait to shoot your herps until the week of August 1-7 when it's warm enough to take them outside.
Donovan_nr: ?

blove: NEXT

rockybalboa_nr: thanks for youre answers

PHFaust: Shogun

rockybalboa_nr: ?

shogunreptle_nr: Hey again! Back to colleges, what would you sat is THE BEST over all herpetology program?

shogunreptle_nr: Or even a few programs, just for choices

nei: ?

blove: I don't know them all, but I know the Univ. of Florida in Gainesville, FL is topnotch. For Mad. herps, Univ. of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

blove: NEXT

shogunreptle_nr: OK, thanks!

PHFaust: Nei your turn NOW

nei: How do you deal with taking photos of an animal that moves around a lot. Is it a bad idea to just keep taking a lot of pictures to hope to get a good one? what would you suggest?

blove: With digital, why not shotgun for the best pic? It may not be the skilled method, but it can work, and that's the bottom line. I prefer patience myself, and just outlast a herp that keeps running.

blove: Get a large MB chip so you can take tons of pics.

blove: NEXT

PHFlame: Wyv, you're up

PHWyvern: Is there a reason you prefer slide film to print film? Any particular advantage or disadvantages to using slide (other than the higher cost in processing it)

blove: Slides are more broadly useful, and record more data than even digicams. If you're blowing them up to bigger than 8" x 10", slides are best. And of course, they're projectable, though digi is fast catching up and will surpass slides soon I think.

blove: NEXT

PHFaust: Demonfrog your turn

blove: I think that slides will soon be considered 'professional use only' by people making posters, billboard ads, centerfolds, etc.

DemonFrog: do you have annulated tree boas? ever photographed them?

DemonFrog: if i take some pics of them do you want me to send you some?

blove: Never had them, but did photo some at Ft. Worth Zoo, TX 5+ years ago.

DemonFrog: are they easy subjects?

blove: Don't send your frog pics to me, but consider posting them on www.fieldherpers.com to share what you're finding in the wild. Or on kingsnake.com's field herping forum too, of course.

blove: NEXT

PHFaust: PHLiz your turn

DemonFrog: thank you so much and good night everyone

PHLiz: Where did you take your most rewarding cham photo(s), which locale? Also what other tips or advice do you have for someone looking into keeping pygmy chams (other than the information typically found in books and online)?

shogunreptle_nr: ?

shogunreptle_nr: What is the best Major to take when wanting to deal mostly with herps for your carrer?

blove: I have the most fun shooting chameleons in Ambanja becuase they're so beautiful there, plus I stay long enough to know people and have them help set up special shots, feeding pics, etc.

blove: I haven't kept Brookesia personally. I think they can handle extremes of humidity, and keepers might try varying that aspect of their environment more, but that's speculation, not fact from me.

blove: I'd suggest a major in business and do herps as a hobby.

LeafTail: ?

PHFaust: Donovan your turn

PHWyvern: ?

blove: Carreers in herpetology require lots of bio and chemistry. I don't have a degree in herpetology, just a long 'Roads Scholarship'.

Donovan_nr: Bill, how long have you been photographing herps?

shogunreptle_nr: Thanks!

PHFaust: Leaftail your turn

blove: I' got my first real camera -- Olympus OM-1 -- in 1975.

blove: That's when my career really began.

Donovan_nr: cool

LeafTail: Tips on getting a gecko to hold still and look at you for a photo without scaring it into turning dark?

blove: Geckos often freeze once a flash has hit them, and they usually start licking their eyes too. Flash a pre-flash to see if it works for the species you want to shoot. Also, try not to directly handle it - use a cup to cup it. they seem to react to warm hands by darkening.

LeafTail: thanks!

blove: NEXT

PHFaust: Rocky your turn

rockybalboa_nr: Bill what types of diverse places have you found the tree boa in,what problems are the boas of madagascar facing.and do you know of a site that breed tree boas or a site that i can learn about them,thanks again.

rockybalboa_nr: i really like the green phase mad.tree boa

blove: I summed up my knowledge of Mad. tree boas in a REPTILES article just a year or so ago - forgot which issue. they're found nearly island-wide in virtually all habitats. I'd Google them to find a breeder.

shogunreptle_nr: ?

rockybalboa_nr: thanks

PHFaust: PHWyvern, your turn

PHWyvern: When dealing with photographs outside of typical artistic license or just sharing with folks, do you think it's ethical for someone to 'enhance' a digital photo (even for something as minor as altering lighting or contrast or playing with other filters) when the photos are of animals that person is actively trying to sell for profit?

blove: I know a bunch of folks are working on them now that that bunch of juvies came in in the mid-late 1990s and were dispersed.

blove: Digital enhancement of animals for sale is like false advertising. Same goes for falsely representing images as true nature. But as an artist, I think it's OK to display altered works that are for sale IF the photographer / artist acknowledges the tweaking as part of what he / she did to achieve the 'art'. Photoshop is part of the photographer's palette now.

blove: NEXT

PHFaust: Shogun you will have the last question

shogunreptle_nr: What's the best route to take when trying to get the publishers and editor at magazines like REPTILES to see your work, and take it seriously? How many photos should be included on average?

blove: To best get the editors at REPTILES to notice your work, print some 4" x 6" (or larger) pics to accompany the article - it's easier to view easily without having to bring them up on a computer, or use a loup on a light table. Also, get a known author / photographer to recommend you to the editors to get their attention if they're busy. Don't forget, it may seem like they get a zillion submissions, but they NEED god, new pics constantly too, so keep trying.

shogunreptle_nr: Thanks for your time!

PHFlame: Bill, on behalf of all of us at kingsnake.com, thank you so much for being our guest tonight! Thank you to all who joined us tonight as well. Please join us tomorrow when our guest will be Kara Glasgow of NERD.

For information on all our Chat Week events, please visit our schedule at http://www.kingsnake.com/HerpChat7.html

rockybalboa_nr: thanks bill and all moderators, what a great chat,thanks

PHFaust: Bill, Kathy, Thanks to both of you for staying up late this evening... We appreciated it

blove: A typical article uses from 12- 20 pics. For just submitting pics themselves, limit it to 50 to see it they're impressed with your quality. Don't overwhelm them until they know you've got good stuff.

LeafTail: thanks bill from all of us

blove: Good night!